Furnace construction



April 9, 1929.

J. L. BREESE, JR

FURNAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Au INVENTOR A JZz/,Waep lree/Se (En. BY m ou mi? ATTYS.

Patented pr.` 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES JAMES L. B Rnnsn, JR., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

TIoN,`1oF oHIoAGo, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR TO OIL DEVICES CORPORA- .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION.

Application led August 26, 1926. ,Serial No. 131,578.

My invention relates to a furnace construction and particularly to a furnace for use with a hot air heating system. One object ofthe invention is the provision of improved air moistening means. Another object is increased eliciency in the transfer of heat from the furnace to the circulated air. Another object is the provision of means for protecting the head or top of thev furnace from burning out. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section; and Figure 2 is a top plan View with parts omitted. .l Like parts are indicated bylike symbols throughout the specification anddrawings. A generally indicates the furnace proper, having a lower cylindrical portion A1 and an 'upper tapered portion A2. A3` is a concave head for the furnace surrounded bythe rim A4t and in communication with a water. supply pipe A5 controlled by any suitable float valve or level regulating means AG. A7 is the flue.

Any suitable burner may be employed with my furnace, whether for the combustion of solid, liquid or gaseous fuel', the details thereof forming no part of the present invention and not being herein shown. Positioned about the furnace is the outer housing B, herein shown as a cylinder concentric with the cylinder A1. B1 is'an inwardly tapered portion adjacent the top thereof, and B2 a smaller cylindrical portion thereabove.

Positioned intermediate the furnace A and 40 the outer shell B is the wall C positioned for example bythe spacers C1 C2. It preferably terminates at a level above the bottom of the furnace, or is so shaped or perforated as to permit a flow of air beneath or through its lower portion. It will be understood that in normal operation the cold. air flows downwardly through the space between the members B and C and upwardly through the space between the members A and C. i

In order to increase to a maximum thel heating effect of the furnace upon the upwardly rising circulation of heated air and\ to prevent so far as possible the heating of the outer shell I provide a shield D spaced between the fire box zone of the furnace A and the intermediate made of dull finish in mum heat and as the partition C. It may be o rder to absorb a maxiair circulates along the wall A1 and between the furnace and the wall C it passes about said shield and absorbs the heat thereof. In order to increase the. heating area thus provided the member D mayf lation of air the inner face ofthe wall C may 4 be highly polished or tinned or painted with metallic paint in order to reflect back the heat radiated by the furnace.

It will be noted that the inward inclination of the wall A2 of the furnace A decreases the cross-sectional area of the furnace and progressively increases the cross-sectional area of the heated air passage, from bottom to top of the furnace. This compensates for the contraction of the exhaust gases as they are cooled and the expansion of the air as it is heated.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, numberand disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of myV invention. I therefore wish m'y description and drawing to be taken as in a broad sense diagrammatic and illustrative rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I have illustrated a furnace adaptable as a relatively small and ductless heating unit for heating rooms or small houses. It 1s preferably positioned beneath the fioor level, the floor level in Figure l being indicated as X. Any suitable heating means being employed to raise the temperature of the furnace A to the proper degree, the air surrounding the furnace, namely in the space between A and C, will be heated by the furnace and will rise and pass upwardly into the room. The down-owing cold air, on the other hand, will ow into the space between the walls B and C, and downwardly along and through or under the wall C adjacent the lower portion of the furnace A. vThere it rises and is reheated by the furnace. The screen D absorbs a substantial proportion of the heat radiated by the furnace and this heat in Aturn is absorbed by the upwardly rising current of air.

'The'use of such screen, as well as the em# loyment of a heat radiating inner surface or'the wall C, limits to 'a minimum heat losses through the wall Bfandalso limits theV risk of the overheating of adj acent'partitions, V

' ing concentric air conduits, a heat-absorbif such there be, and consequent lire risks.

In order to humidify the air I provide a water/holding top for the furnace. By so positioning the Water reservoir I obtain' an ade uate area of exposed Water surface and at the/same time eliminate the chance of burn- ,ing -out the furnaceead. AThe -water level n/lay be regulated by any suitable manner and /I do not wish to be limited to the ioat valve 1s herein shown.

" Iclaim: l'

1. In a circulation heater adapted vto be positioned beneath the floor level of the room (to be heated, a furnace, an outer cylindrical .'20 housing thereabout, a cylindrical partition intermediate said housing and .said furnace, said partition terminating short of the bottom ,of the housing and being adapted to permit the downward circulation of air between the partition and the furnace, they furnace being `upwardly and inwardly tapered progressively away from the intermediate partition to increase progressively thecrosb-sectional area of Athe heated ain passage formed thereby, andan additional cylindrical shield member positioned between the partition and the fire box zoneof the furnace and confined to the region below the tapered portion of the furnace whereby a maximum quantity of air may contact directly with the furnace walls.

2. In a heating` apparatus, a furnace, a housing therefor, a partition positioned be tween the furnace and the housing and defining shield positioned between .the partitiron and the furnace andconined to the fire box zone of the furnace *and serving to insulate the lower portion of the partition from direct radiations Jfrom thev furnace walls, the parti- 'tion above the shield being subject to direct radiations from the upper walls ofthe fur-v nace and beingr provided with a bright, heatreflecting sur ace. Y

3. In a heating apparatus including a furnace surrounded by a partition on the opposite sides rections under the iniuence-of heat from the furnace walls the combination'of a narrow heat-absorbing shield surroundingthe fire box' zone of the furnace and positioned between the furnace and said partition to insulate the partition from direct radiations from the fire box zone of the furnace, said partition extending above the shield and being pro-A vided with a bright, heat-reflecting surface subject to direct radiations from the furnace 'Svned at Chicago, county of'Cook and 'y of which air iows in reverse di- 3 

